Combined fence-post and wire-stretcher.



W. J. DAVIS. COMBINED FENCE POST AND WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 20, 1909.

Patented June 14, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHBET l.

lII -Illllil 61mm, I

W. J. DAVIS.

comanmn mm POST AND WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 20, 1909.

Patented June 14,1910.

2 EHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES AENT TQE.

T0 WILLIAM RELEY ALDRIDGE, OLIVER, BEIITQN MON'UTT, AND FRANCIS LAFAYETTE JONES, ALL OF BLUE SPRINGS, IVIISSISSIPEI.

COMBINED FENCE-POST AND VIRE-STRETGHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June let, 1910.

Application filed December 20, 1909. Serial No. 534,008.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLLiM J. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blue Springs, in the county of Union and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Fence-Posts and Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements for combined fence post and wire stretcher.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved fence post on which an improved wire stretching device may be removably mounted and which has improved means for separately fastening each wire of a fence as the wires are individually stretched.

lVith the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fence post constructed in accordance with my invention and showing my improved wire stretching device applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an edge view; Fig. 3 is a top plan View; Figs. st and 5 are vertical sectional views; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 66 in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the post with the stretching device removed, and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the wire clamping slides.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 denotes the body of my improved fence post which is of substantially rectangular shape in cross section and has at its lower end a depending tapered anchoring portion 2 and a transverse horizontal base portion 3. The portion 2 is driven into the ground until the projecting ends of the base 3 rest upon the surface to brace the post and prevent it from being pulled over when the wire or wires are stretched as presently eX- plained. The extreme upper end of the post body 1 has one of its sides cut away to provide a reduced end 4, which latter has a transverse opening 5 and oppositely disposed notches which form horizontal shoulders 6 and an upwardly projecting tenon 7, the purpose of which will presently appear.

Formed in one side face of the post body 1 is a vertically extending groove or channel 8, the opposing walls of which are undercut as at 9 and which forms on said body spaced flanges or ribs 10. These ribs are provided at opposite points with wire-receiving notches 11 which are curved longitudinally or arc-shaped as shown. The groove or channel 8 in the post body is adapted to receive a plurality of wire clamping slides 12, each of which has on itsinner face flanges 13 to engage the undercut portions 9 of the walls of the groove 8 whereby said slides will be retained in position. Each of said slides is formed in its front face with an upwardly curved transverse notch 14- adapted to receive one of the wires in one of the pairs of notches 11 and to clamp such wire to the post body when said slide is moved downwardly. The several slides are adapted to abut each other and in their ends are formed notches 15 for the reception of retaining pins 16. The latter are adapted to pass through the notches 15 and into openings 17 arranged in a vertical series in the post body 1 as shown. The uppermost slide 12 is also formed with an opening 18 for the reception of one of the pins 16.

The wire stretching device comprises a body of right angular shape consisting of a top piece or bar 19 and an upright member or frame 20. The latter consists of two spaced side strips 21 having their upper ends united by a solid portion 22, from which projects a tenon 23 to enter an opening in one end of the bar 19. The lower ends of the strips 21 are united by a similar solid portion 24, from which depends a tenon 25 adapted to enter one of the two openings 26 formed in the projecting ends or arms of the base 3. The bar 19 is formed with an opening 27 adapted to receive the tenon 7 on the upper extremity of the post body 1. The construction just described permits the right angular body of the stretcher to be disposed on either side of the post body 1, the bar 19 being reversible on the tenon 7 so that it can project in either direction and the tenon 25 being adapted to enter the opening 26 in either end or arm of the base 3. Formed in the inner edges of the strips 21 are pairs of bearing notches or recesses 28 in which may be removably journaled the shaft 29 of a winding spool 30. One of the two flanges or heads of this spool is Cir formed with a series of annular ratchet teeth 31 which co-act with any one of a series of pivoted pawls 32 mounted on the inner face of one of the strips 21. One end of the shaft or pivot 29 may be provided with a crank handle 33 whereby the spool may be rotated to wind thereon the wire to be stretched. If desired, the wire to be stretched may be engaged with a notched clamping plate 3%, which latter is connected to one end of a wire 35, the other end of which is attached to and wound upon the spool.

In using the invention for stretching a series of horizontal fence wires, the body of the stretcher is applied to the proper side of the post 1 by engaging the bar 19 with the tenon 7 and engaging the tenon with the opening in the base The spool is then placed in the lowermost pair of bearing notches 28 in the strips 1 of the stretcher and after the wire to be stretched-has been connected to the plate 34 the spool is rotated to stretch the wire. After he latter has been stretched to the proper tension the lowermost clamping slide or block 12 is raised and the fence wire passed through the notch 14- in said slide and the lowermost pair of wire-receiving notches 11 in the flanges 10 of the post body. Said slide 11 is then forced downwardly and secured in place by inserting one of the pins 16 in the notched upper extremity of said slide 11 and in the lowermost transverse opening 17 in the post. The fence wire will thus be securely clamped in position and the spool may be then moved to the neXt upper pair of bearing notches 28 and the second wire may be stretched and fastened in the same manner. This operation is repeated according to the number of wires to be stretched and when the uppermost wire has been stretched and secured one of the pins 16 is passed through the opening 18 in the uppermost slide and into one of the upper transverse openings 17 in the post to effectively lock the several slides in position. The body 20 of the wire stretcher may then be removed from the post.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

The combination of a post having at its top a tenon and at its bottom oppositely projecting base portions formed with openings, a stretcher frame comprising an upright member and an upperbar, the latter being formed with an opening to receive the tenon on the post, and the lower end of said upright member being formed with a tenon to enter the opening in either of the projecting base portions of the post whereby the stretcher may be positioned on either side of the post, a wire stretcher means shiftable vertically on the upright member of the stretcher, and a plurality of wire clamping devices on said post.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VHLLIAM J. DAVIS Htnesses D. F. GREEK, J. W. MILLER. 

